Adult Learning – Mental Skills helps adults develop practical approaches to understanding, remembering, and applying new information. The course focuses on attention, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and reflection, with activities relevant to study, work, and everyday life.
Learners explore how to draw on previous experience, organise their learning, check their understanding, and adapt their approach when a task becomes challenging.
Ideal for: Adult students, employees, career changers, community learners, and people returning to education.
Suggested duration: 8–12 hours Delivery: Online, blended, or trainer-led Prerequisites: None Course focus: Learning and thinking skills for adults.
Module 1 — Understanding Yourself as an Adult Learner
Explore your learning goals, previous experience, strengths, and support needs.
Topics include:
Connecting learning to personal and professional goals.
Recognising knowledge gained through work and life experience.
Identifying barriers such as time, unfamiliar terminology, or limited resources.
Taking responsibility for learning while asking for support.
Choosing strategies that suit the task rather than relying on a fixed “learning style.”
Practice activity: Create a learner profile describing one goal, relevant experience, likely challenges, and available support.
Module 2 — Attention and Concentration
Learn to organise tasks and surroundings so you can give important information your attention.
Topics include:
Identifying common distractions.
Preparing a suitable learning space.
Breaking large tasks into manageable steps.
Working on one task at a time.
Planning realistic study periods and breaks.
Recognising when instructions need clarification.
Practice activity: Plan a short study session with one clear objective, the materials needed, and a strategy for managing interruptions.
Module 3 — Understanding and Organising Information
Practise turning unfamiliar material into clear, meaningful ideas.
Topics include:
Identifying the main point and supporting details.
Connecting new information to existing knowledge.
Explaining ideas in your own words.
Using examples, comparisons, and diagrams.
Grouping related information.
Recognising gaps in understanding.
Practice activity: Read a short passage, summarise its main idea, and create an example that shows how it could be used.
Module 4 — Memory and Recall Strategies
Explore practical ways to practise recalling information and check what you remember.
Topics include:
Organising information into meaningful groups.
Creating useful memory cues.
Recalling an idea before checking notes.
Planning review across several sessions.
Using practice questions and flashcards.
Correcting mistakes through feedback.
Practice activity: Study five key ideas, close your notes, write what you remember, and check your response. Schedule another review.
Module 5 — Critical Thinking and Reasoning
Learn to examine information carefully before accepting a claim or reaching a conclusion.
Topics include:
Distinguishing facts, opinions, and assumptions.
Asking clear questions.
Checking the relevance and credibility of evidence.
Considering alternative explanations.
Recognising when information is incomplete.
Explaining the reasons behind a conclusion.
Practice activity: Compare two explanations for a workplace problem and identify the evidence needed to decide between them.
Module 6 — Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
Apply a structured approach to unfamiliar tasks and practical problems.
Topics include:
Defining the problem and desired outcome.
Identifying relevant information and constraints.
Generating possible solutions.
Comparing benefits, risks, and effort.
Selecting a realistic next step.
Reviewing whether the solution worked.
Practice activity: Develop a plan for completing an assignment when time and resources are limited. Compare two options and explain your choice.
Module 7 — Planning, Motivation and Learning Confidence
Build a realistic approach to starting tasks, managing setbacks, and maintaining progress.
Topics include:
Setting specific and achievable learning goals.
Turning goals into weekly actions.
Recognising avoidance and identifying its cause.
Asking for useful feedback.
Treating errors as information for further practice.
Adjusting a plan when circumstances change.
Practice activity: Create a one-week learning plan with three manageable actions, a possible obstacle, and a backup arrangement.
Module 8 — Reflection and Applying Learning
Learn to evaluate your approach and use new knowledge in different situations.
Topics include:
Checking understanding through explanation and demonstration.
Comparing confidence with actual performance.
Identifying which strategies helped.
Applying an idea to a new example.
Requesting further practice or support.
Planning continuing learning.
Practice activity: Explain a new skill to another person, apply it to a different scenario, and record what you need to practise next.
Final assessment
Learners complete a knowledge check and prepare a personal learning plan containing:
A clear learning goal.
Relevant experience and support needs.
An attention and study strategy.
A plan for practice, recall, and review.
A problem-solving example.
A method for checking progress and adjusting the plan.
By completing the course, learners will be better prepared to organise their study, work with unfamiliar information, practise recall, solve problems, and make informed decisions about their continuing learning.
Adult Learning – Mental Skills helps adults develop practical approaches to understanding, remembering, and applying new information. The course focuses on attention, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and reflection, with activities relevant to study, work, and everyday life.
Learners explore how to draw on previous experience, organise their learning, check their understanding, and adapt their approach when a task becomes challenging.
Ideal for: Adult students, employees, career changers, community learners, and people returning to education.
Suggested duration: 8–12 hours
Delivery: Online, blended, or trainer-led
Prerequisites: None
Course focus: Learning and thinking skills for adults.
Module 1 — Understanding Yourself as an Adult Learner
Explore your learning goals, previous experience, strengths, and support needs.
Topics include:
Practice activity: Create a learner profile describing one goal, relevant experience, likely challenges, and available support.
Module 2 — Attention and Concentration
Learn to organise tasks and surroundings so you can give important information your attention.
Topics include:
Practice activity: Plan a short study session with one clear objective, the materials needed, and a strategy for managing interruptions.
Module 3 — Understanding and Organising Information
Practise turning unfamiliar material into clear, meaningful ideas.
Topics include:
Practice activity: Read a short passage, summarise its main idea, and create an example that shows how it could be used.
Module 4 — Memory and Recall Strategies
Explore practical ways to practise recalling information and check what you remember.
Topics include:
Practice activity: Study five key ideas, close your notes, write what you remember, and check your response. Schedule another review.
Module 5 — Critical Thinking and Reasoning
Learn to examine information carefully before accepting a claim or reaching a conclusion.
Topics include:
Practice activity: Compare two explanations for a workplace problem and identify the evidence needed to decide between them.
Module 6 — Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
Apply a structured approach to unfamiliar tasks and practical problems.
Topics include:
Practice activity: Develop a plan for completing an assignment when time and resources are limited. Compare two options and explain your choice.
Module 7 — Planning, Motivation and Learning Confidence
Build a realistic approach to starting tasks, managing setbacks, and maintaining progress.
Topics include:
Practice activity: Create a one-week learning plan with three manageable actions, a possible obstacle, and a backup arrangement.
Module 8 — Reflection and Applying Learning
Learn to evaluate your approach and use new knowledge in different situations.
Topics include:
Practice activity: Explain a new skill to another person, apply it to a different scenario, and record what you need to practise next.
Final assessment
Learners complete a knowledge check and prepare a personal learning plan containing:
By completing the course, learners will be better prepared to organise their study, work with unfamiliar information, practise recall, solve problems, and make informed decisions about their continuing learning.